I made lightweight blouses as it is still quite warm. Actually, I went to the fabric store to buy oil for the sewing machine and came back with all these new fabrics. I've decided that I should make them right away and not let the fabrics go on the shelf, where they could stay for a long time. So, here they are:

Kookaloo, all your adorable baby garments have inspired me. I have decided that having no baby around isn't a reason for not making cute stuff. So, I made myself some tops.

I am thinking of adding a trail and a lady bug on the "collar" of the red one, some 3D cherries on the green and maybe some lace on the turle one(not sure about that). I won't do anything to the orange one as it is rayon and more delicate.

There was big white blank on the wall that wasn't in the spirit of Halloween at all. So, I made a very quick painting to fill this white out.

I had old spray cans of yellow, red, black and white. I also had lots of blues, but I decided not to use them. I used an old plastic card to scrap the paint and "draw" the tombstones and trees. I cut out the haunted house, bat, witch and hat from construction paper.

Next time I will spray paint, I will make sure I have paint thinner or mineral spirits on hand, especially on a Sunday evening. There was quite a lot of scrubbing involved!

This year, I tried to give the dining room a bit of a vintage Halloween feel but I didn't want to buy any new Halloween decorations.

I made a witch with things I had at home: two trash bags for the head and body, newspaper for the stuffing, two hoses for the legs and arms, a broom, a dress, a leftover piece of black fabric, and a hat from costumes from past years, paper for the shoes and tape to hold it together. It was fast and fun to see it appear. I'm thinking of adding facial features.

The witch was flying very low above the table, so I made a sign with a yellow sheet of construction paper.

This summer, I was lucky to visit the annual Granada exposition in Switzerland. This year, it was about a French impressionist painter, Pierre Renoir. It was very inspiring. I mostly knew about his bathing ladies and "dance at le moulin de la galette" but I discovered some incredibly lifelike portraits of children, especially two little girls in lace cloths. I also learned more about him and fully agree with his views on art. So, I made a page about it.

I received from my partner in the frugal swap. I got lots and lots of jams: blueberry, strawberry, plum, pluot, and guava. No cherry as they were caramelized.I also received a few cards, I'll put pictures soon.

During summer, I carved a few mountain animals. I used a carving knife and small pictures from a book to help me. The first picture shows a chamois or isard, a kind of mountain goat from the Alps that looks a lot like a goat. It was easier as I got to see some while hiking.The next one is supposed to be a big fat groundhog from the Alps, just getting out of her burrow. Everyone in my family said I made a nice bear! They did get the wild sheep called mouflon right. It was pretty easy with the curved horns though. I have to admit I did a better job on this one.